ShoBox: Jhonatan Romero vs. Efrain Esquivias & Roman Morales vs. Jon Arrellano RBR

Round 6

Esquivias is trying to force his way inside and work the body, but Romero is able to hop around him and counter in combination, mostly using uppercuts, without ever getting trapped on the ropes or tied up. Esquivias is a willing target coming in, although he makes defensive overtures at times with his right glove lifted up and crossed over his face and a bit of leaning in. Romero casually strolls backward with his arms down and jabs at Esquivias' face when the pace of pressure slows, and intensifies with uppercut combos when Esquivias picks it up. A few body shots by Esquivias, but he's getting outworked by a large margin and without Romero ever having to get out of second gear.

10-9 Romero

60-54 Romero

 

Total punches through six rounds:

Jabs
Romero 39 of 130, 30%
Esquivias 10 of 120, 8%

Power
Romero 147 of 254, 58%
Esquivias 53 of 252, 21%

Total
Romero 186 of 384, 48%
Esquivias 63 of 372, 17%

Body
Romero 22
Esquivias 29

:!:

 

Round 7

Romero opens up on Esquivias and lands several unanswered power blows to the face. Esquivias wobbles in place as Romero tees off on him unopposed from outside. Romero decides to pull the plug on his offense before punching himself out as Esquivias shows good resistance and keeps coming forward. Romero picks his spots and continues to rock Esquivias' head around with rights over the top and uppercuts while dancing around him. A few reaches to the body by Esquivias, but little effective. LATE PUNCH!! Low blow by Esquivias after the bell. Romero rolls around on the ground and spits out his gum shield.

10-9 Romero

70-63 Romero

 

A point is taken from Esquivias between rounds.

 

The replay shows a perfectly legit left hook above the waistband. NOT a low blow; Romero was selling it.

Still a foul, as Farhood points out, because it came after the bell.

 

Round 8

Romero opens up with several hooks to the head, faster than Esquivias can get his guard up. Romero begins to use the entire ring, tracking around and jabbing Esquivias in the chin. Esquivias tries to close in, staying low and slapping at the body. High jabs by Esquivias miss. Romero lines up counter 1-2s and flops over Esquivias as he burrows inside, head pinned under Romero's armpit. Pot shots from outside by Romero, holding his arms tight against his sides as he shows off by slipping Esquivias' shots at close range.

10-9 Romero

80-71 Romero (incl. the point deduction from after the 7th)

 

Round 9

Esquivias comes forward, and slips as Romero is flicking jabs his way. Underhand reaches to the body by Esquivias, not quite making it. He ducks and rises inside with an uppercut. Romero backs up and jabs him in the face. Esquivias gets closer and tickles Romero with his own high jab. Slapping right by Esquivias leaping up off his toes toward Romero. Steady jabs by Romero while dancing around. Leaping hook by Esquivias, blocked. Shoe shine combo up close by Esquivias, blocked. Romero jabs, ducked. BIG uppercut by Romero catching Esquivias walking forward, and then the right is spun high overhead and dropped hard from above.


90-80 Romero

 

So the winner of this is second in line for the winner of Donaire vs. Nishioka??